By Airline Ratings
Published Tue May 06 2025
With the cessation of the A380 production line, few would have predicted that a new airline would emerge with the iconic aircraft at its core. However, Global Airlines has defied expectations by launching its operations with the Airbus A380, marking a bold and ambitious step in the airline industry.
Global Airlines’ Airbus A380-841, registered as 9H-GLOBL, originally began its life with China Southern Airlines and is now over 12 years old. Bearing manufacturer serial number (MSN) 120, the aircraft completed its maiden flight on September 25, 2012, from Airbus’ production facility in Toulouse, France
First delivered to China Southern on February 28, 2013, under the registration B-6140, the aircraft was configured with 8 First, 70 Business, and 428 Economy seats, and powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 970-84 engines. It was initially leased from ICBC, with the lease later transferring to ABC Financial Leasing in May 2015 and then CSA Leasing in February 2020. After nearly a decade in service, the aircraft was withdrawn from use on November 5, 2022, and placed into storage at Mojave Air & Space Port (MHV) from December 21, 2022, to April 30, 2024.
On January 24, 2023, it was acquired by Jet Midwest and re-registered as N123KK. A year later, on January 30, 2024, it officially became part of Global Airlines' fleet, maintaining the same configuration and engine type.
READ: The world's newest airline: Global Airlines is here
The aircraft was re-registered as 9H-GLOBL and began flying under Hi Fly Malta on February 2, 2024, leased from Global Airlines. While operated by Hi Fly Malta, the aircraft went through a series of storage and maintenance stops: it was stored at Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) from May 1 to October 4, 2024, then moved to Dresden (DRS) until January 17, 2025, and finally to Beja (BYJ) through May 2, 2025.
